Grand Toastmasters Club Officers Meeting & Training

It was a busy day. I got up early to pack for my two-days traveling in Wanhua. I was feeling excited! It was before 9:30 when I arrived at the Duckstay Saturday morning, January 31st. I was, of course, the first customer.

Grand Officers Meeting started at 10 o'clock sharp. Six officers and deputy officers attended the meeting, including President Zoy Juang, DeputyVPE Eric Hsu, VPPR Sherry Li, Treasurer Betty Lin, Secretary May Hwang, and Deputy Secretary Spring Lee. The main theme was about how to activate Grand's social media (Grand's blog and facebook) on internet. We discussed various issues about documenting regular meetings and promoting club's activities to members and friends. Many thanks to Zoy for treating officers the brunch at Duckstay.

After meeting, we saw the exhibition of Illustrator Michael Leu's old Wanhua and Taipei. We visited lodging facilities at Duckstay, shower rooms for ladies and gentlemen, coin laundry, hostel rooms. Duckstay is newly opened hostel in Taipei with a capacity of 108 beds (NT$680 per bed per night). I like the black curtain surrounded each bed to keep the privacy! I like the huge and spacy residents' corner downstairs for social events.

Division C&H's 2nd clubs officers training took place at Soochow University Taipei campus, within the walking distance from Duckstay. With my scooter, I could get there in a swift. As I was interested in the Wanhua tour event sponsored by Duckstay in the afternoon. I traveled between two places. I was at the opening, Q&A, group photo of the club officers training. Most of the time. I was in a crowd of visitors of Wanhua alleys What a busy golden lady Toastmaster!

After Division C&H's club officers training, I invited Granders and a few Toastmasters to golden ladies Toastmasters slumber party at Duckstay. But all decided to call it a day. So I returned to Duckstay by myself to check in and to wait for other golden ladies for dinner. For a party queen, I just began my day of excitements.

Bon Voyage to Toastmaster Erik Lahdekorpi

Toastmaster Charles Teng, Immediate Past President of MOFA Toastmasters Club, and I held a small farewell party for Toastmaster Erik Lahdekorpi at MOFA Cafe' Thursday noon, January 29th. Erik will leave Taiwan for a couple of months to pursue new opportunities in the US.

Erik was waiting for me when I arrived at MOFA Cafe's with his NT1,000 dollars with me from two weeks ago. Even it was a farewell party for two, I enjoyed listenting to Erik's past adventures in Taiwan and abroad. Erik told me how he achieved being the No. 1 soical group in Taiwan on Couchsurfing before it was liquidated in 2011. His group reached more than 1,500 people. He now operates Taipei Language Cafe at Meetup for people to practice different languages and to have fun!


Charles Teng joined us at 1:30. Three of us shared ideas about the prospectives of Toastmasters clubs in Taiwan. We talked about Taiwan and world politics for 30 minutes. We took a group photo at the entrance of MOFA with Erik holding an apple in hand. Erik has many clients in various industry sectors, Google, Microsoft, Asus, Acer. He wishes to have a client at Apple on his list. And Charles and I wish him the best luck in 2015!

 I joined Meetup more than 10 years ago to find cloggers, but I didn't create events actively. I thought I could make a change from now on. I created my first event on facebook for golden ladies Toastmasters slumber party at Duckstay at the end of January! I also encouraged Grand Toastmasters Club to follow TGIF's to make each regular meeting an event on Facebook, and to create an image to match the meeting theme. Hopefully, we can build an effective social network for people who are interested in communication and leadership skills in Toastmasters.
 

The Blue House Japanese Cuisine

Among Italian, Californian, and Japanese food, golden ladies decided upon a sashimi lunch at the Blue House at Hsin-hsin Department Store Wednesday noon, January 28th.

Jack, one of my colleagues at Taiwan Biotech Pharmacy, gave me a coupon of the chain store restaurant (Grazie, Skylark, Blue House) where he worked as a waiter. Jack kept an extra part-time job in addition to his full-time pharmacist assistant. In Taiwan, many young people replied on their parents  but more young people worked several jobs day and night to make the ends meet. Jack is one of them. Many thanks to Jack for his monthly fringe benefit for golden ladies to enjoy an year-end party.

Five golden ladies (Gina, Irene, Lydia, Sherry, Pamela) enjoyed a sumptuous set course for four at the Blue House with the original price of NT$2,388. The food was fresh and the service was good. We had everything from starters, salads, soup, fired, stewed, baked, you name it, all kinds of delicious food from mountain till sea. Lydia left early for her second appointment. Four of us remained for the desserts. I was the only one who ordered red bean soup, the rest three order baked sweet potato. I tyied a bite of Irene's. It was really delicious.

After lunch, Irene and I stayed to watch a movie "It's been a long time since my last toast to you" written and directed by a young talent. Being a movie fan (I’ve seen more than 1,000 movies in the past year), I didn't like the cast, the story, not to mention the movie. I would vote it worst movie of the year if I could. But it was nice to keep Irene's company. Irene is a supporter of local movies.

CDE & TMU Toastmasters Clubs Joint Meeting

After Grand and TMU joint meeting last Wednesday evening, I encouraged TMU to have a joint meeting with CDE during their winter break. To my delight, both CDE and TMU made it happen Tuesday noon, January 27th. Both CDE and TMU are protege clubs of Grand, I invited Billy Chen, Trini Ding, Mike Yang to support the joint meeting and I advanced my working schedule at pharmacy from Tuesday to Monday, so that I could serve as the grammarian.

Even Toastmaster Selina Liu just joined CDE, she served as Toastmaster of the Day with success. Two prepared speakers from CDE were Grace Wu (The Jungle Book) and Nancy Teng (Lantern Festival). Grace delivered her C4 (How to Say it) and Nancy delivered her C3 (Get to the Point). Two prepared speakers from TMU were Fanny Lin (Words Kill) and Gary Kuo (Twenty-four). They both delivered their C2s (Organize Your Speech). Gary won the best speaker award. How was I proud of Toastmasters from my alma mater, Taipei Medical Univeristy!

Being the grammarian, I selected "vital" as word of the day. I gave a few examples of vital, vitality, revitalize, and encouraged members to use the word of the day in their speeches. The reason I wanted to introduce the verb of "revitalize" for two reasons. Firstly, Toastmaster Mike Yang was invited to be the General Evaluator. He is the chief ambassador the Toastmasters Revitaliazed Education Program which is about to be launched at the end of this year. Secondly, I wish to know how much revitalized Kung-yang would be after Taipei City Mayor Ke removed the overpass, the first overpass he removed after he took the office.

During my language evaluation, I talked mainly about the Jungle Book and I encouraged members to read the famous book by English author Rudyard Kipling in 1894. The Jungle Book was about a "man cub" Mowgli raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. They are fables, using animals in an anthropomorphic manner to give moral lessons. Because of its moral tone, the Jungle Book was used as a motivational book by the Cub Scouts, a junior element of the Scouting movement. Akela, the head wolf in The Jungle Book, has become a senior figure in the movement, the name being traditionally adopted by the leader of each Cub Scout pack.

I also took the chance to encourage members to read the Graveyard Book by English author Neil Gaiman, simultaneously published in 2008. The Graveyard Book traces the story of the boy Nobody Owens who is adopted and raised by the supernatural occupants of a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered. To compare the Jungle Book and the Graveyard Book, we found similarities of the two, suggested by Thomas Foster in "How to read literature like a Professor : for Kids".

After the meeting, President Jean Lai spent 10 minutes briefing the CDE, Toastmaster Mike Yang updated the recent development  of Revitalized Education Program for 10 minutes. We took a glance at Toastmaster Magazine January issue "Dive into the New Year". Many thanks to CDE for the welcome poster and the western style lunch box of curry bread, raisin bread, and chocolate muffin.

Grand New Members Orientation

It's been a while since Grand last held the social gathering at Toastmaster Gina Cheng's cozy apartment in Chung-ho, New Taipei City. Ten Granders, including President Zoy Chung, four senior members (Billy Chen, Gina Cheng, May Hwang, and myself), five junior and new members (CT Lin, Ian Yang, Eric Hsu, Spring Lee, Betty Lin) refilled Gina’s living room with resilience and laughter on a beautiful and sunny Saturday, January 24th.

To my surprise, Billy arrived earlier than I did, to prepare pork rib and raddish soup. I brought a bottle of French red wine. May arrived after me, bringing sweets from Mister Donut, Zoy followed by carrying a huge suitcase of chicken curry, vegetable curry, guavas and apples to feed an entire army. When Zoy told us she had been worried because she couldn't find any new members at the Yung-san MRT Station. We were worried what if none showed up. No sooner than later, the bell rang, voila arrived a group of youngsters.

After a warm round of toasting with red wine, I was honored to start Grand's New Members Orientation by talking about "from a new member to a distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)", even I'm yet to be a DTM. May gave a workshop on "Meeting Roles and Responsibilities" from Successful Club Series 295. Billy talked about how to prepare speeches according to Competent Communicator Manual. Five new members, all served as Grand's officers and deputy officers, asked a lot questions about the Toastmasters.

It was almost one o'clcok while Billy was still giving his talk enthusiasticaly, I had to start the lunch by myself in order to rush to another two appointments in the afternoon. The soup was delicious, the chicken curry was tasty. I wish I could've stayed longer to double the joy of food among Granders. Before I left Gina's place, I asked for a group photo. Vice President Education CT Lin led his junior and new members team gave old members big and sweet surprises of prepaid coffee cards.

With Billy's clear instructions, I rode my scooter from Chung-ho to Wanhua in twenty minutes. It was the first time I crossed the Hua-chung Bridge connecting Chung-ho and Wanhua. I arrived at Duckstay before 1:30PM. I met Illustrator Michael Leu and got his signature on "Railway Kids". Then I donated the illustrated book to Duckstay, because more visitors can benefit from reading the story of A-Liang in old Wanhua in the 60's.

Then I rushed to Anatolia Formosa Association (AFA) on Keelung Road to join the Thurkish coffee gathering with friendly Turkish ladies at AFA. It was the first time two concurrent events took place, the coffee gathering and the movie gathering to watch “Fetih 1453”. As much as I love movies, I stayed with the women group to chat over Turkish tea for the entire afternoon with great delight.

Grand & TMU Toastmasters Clubs Joint Meeting

It was an exciting evening! Besides the in-house Tabletopics contest, Grand held the first joint meeting with Taipei Medical University (TMC) Toastmasters Club, a protege club of Grand, newly chartered in November 2014. The joint meeting didn't take place sooner, because Grand holds biweekly and TMU holds weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings. Grand and TMU seized the chance to mingle the youung and old, mentors and mentees, during the winter break, Wednesday evening, January 24th.

Toastmaster Gary Kuo, VP Education, mobilized 12 Toastmasters from TMU, including two invited individual evaluators (IEs), Harry Hsu from National Taiwan University Toastmasters Club and Willy Lin from Premium Toastmasters Club. With one third of participants from university Toastmasters at the age of 20, the house was full of energy and laughter.

Grand’s in-house tabletopics contest began first. President Zoy Juang was the first timer contest chair, Jimmy Wu was the seasoned chief judge. Division A Governor Michelle Fan was called upon to be one of the judges the moment she walked into Grand's meeting venue. Four contestants were CT Lin, Gina Cheng, Helen Lin, and Sherry Li. It was a tabletopic of self-indulgence, what you like the most about yourself. Being a person of ego, I felt bold and unabashed to be full of myself in public. "I like my body which is sexy. I like my brain, which makes my body sexier. I like my my heart the most to chase after dreams courageously. Thanks to my parents for the DNA, thanks to my husband for unconditional support," said I and I won the contest with Helen Lin.

Toastmaster May Hwang, Toastmaster of the Evening, took over after the in-house contest. She decided upon the meeting theme "Keep Warm in Winter". All assignment takers had different ideas how to keep warm in winter, eat hotpot, do yoga, drink hot tea, read in the sun, stay in, just to name a few. Icebreaker Emily Lin impressed the audience with her speech "Don't belittle Yourself". Being short, Emily overcame the ridicule of others, stood tall, and won the best speaker. Icebreaker Andrew Lee gave his second speech "The Mute Who Spoke". Being a shy person, Andrew told us about the struggles of the engineer club in high school and how he led the whole group to achieve. Both C1 speakers from TMU were fluent in English and prepared their speeches well. Toastmaster Ian Yang delivered his C9 speech "Needs and Wants" by persuading the audience into balancing needs and wants in life and soliciting the donation to kids in country of poverty. Coincidentally, Toastmasters Gina Cheng also shared her experience visiting a remote aboriginal village in Taidong County in her A28 speech "An Extraordinary Trip". She opened her speech by carrying a huge suitcase of old clothes to give away to those in need.

During the intermission, Toastmasters mingled happily around the table full of food and desserts. As the General Evaluator, I consulted TOE May Hwang in advance to take charge of the entire evaluation session for a change. The first IE Harry Hsu was a master of analogues and quotations. He won the best evaluator. The 2nd IE Willy Lin encouraged the speaker to increase the voice volume to connect with the audience. The 3rd IE Billy Chen advised the speaker to focus on key points and to finish the speech on time. The last IE Helen Lin suggested the speaker to use a photo of the aboriginal village to arouse the interest of the audience.

If the joint meeting were a live performance, TOE would be a competent director with a box office. The meeting started on time and ended on time with strong cast, good food, and friendly atmosphere. The participation of college students brought down the average age significantly. President Zoy Juang invited Toastmasters from TMU for a second party at Young-ho Soybean milk shop in the neighborhood to show her appreciation.

Traveling in Wanhua

Wanhua has a lot to offer, to pray at the Lungshan Temple—the oldest temple in Taipei, to shop at countless wholesaler and retailed stores, not to mention many century old small eateries of local delicacies. I ventured to Wanhua for a special reason Saturday afternoon, January 17th, to scout the venue for the first gathering of golden ladies in 2015.

I was invited by Kate to the opening tea party for the Exhibition of illustrator Michael Leu at the Hall of Duckla, the basement of Duckstay Hostel, 大可居 large and cozy, literary in Chinese. I arrived 30 minutes early. Being the first participant to the exhibition, I had the priviledge to take photos before the opening of the exhibition and to mingle with a group of young staff over a cup of expresso and a slice of green bean cake. Early birds indeed got worms!

I didn’t know illustrator Michael Leu, but I fell in love with his illustrations immediately, especially his protraits of cats. When I was required to design a cat at the artistic class for senior citizens at Taipei City Library—Jing Xin Branch Friday afternoon, January 15th, I didn’t know exactly how a cat was built physically. I’d been puzzling how to make a creative cat since then. What a serendipity it was to see three illustrated books for children about cats by Michael. Michael  keeps a cat as a pet and has been drawing cats since childhood.

Michael was born and brought up in Wanhua. In his illuatrated storybook “Railway Kids“ published in 2013, he draw the old Wanhua area around the railroad. I was born and raised in Chia-yi, but I’d been learning Japanese dance in Wanhua for more than a decade, and I love Wanhua for no less. I was mesmerize by the reminisce of old Wanhua in the early 20th century. To my surprise, I was given the Miachel's Railway Kids as a gift for my feedback at the end of the panel discussion.

After a grand tour of Duckstay Hostel, Kate and I decided to book a room for 8 for a crazy slumber party for golden ladies at the end of January. On my way to MRT Wanhua Station, I bought two pounds of pork floss, one pound of preserved fruits, two bags of small yellow and green jade beads (1000 beads a bag). Reading the "Railways Kids" on MRT to Xindian, I was drawn to the story of A-Liang, the protagonist of Railways Kids, a adpoted son to survive in poverty and strived to become a good man.

I felt a strong urge to share my excitements by tapping on the keyboard as soon as I got home. I look forward to rejoicing the first gathering with golden ladies at Duckstay in 2015, to posing in PJ in front of a huge illustration of Michael's Railway Wanhua at the slumber party, to savoring the bliss of traveling in Wanhua twenty-four seven.

PS: The avian flu virus has swept Taiwan recently. Tens of thousands of geese, ducks and chickens were culled to contain the outbreak. At the first sight of the sign of Duckstay, I thought about the potent strains carried by migratory birds. Be aware of birds that fly around and stay!

How to Set Goals

MOFA Toastmasters Club took initiatives to organize a forum at their regular meeting from 2015 to involve all participants. Everyone was given time to read and to brainstorm in group about the article assigned by the facilitator in advance.

MOFA forum in January was hosted by Toastmaster Erik Lahdekorpi. He selected the article "How to Set Goals: The Ultimate step-by-step goal setting workshop" by Stefan Pylarinos, Founder of ProjectLifeMastery.com.

At the beginning of the new year, everyone was eager to talk about their SMART years resolutions. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timeline. The more specific the goals can be, the better. The goal is MEASURABLE, as it has a timeline for achieving it. The goal is ATTAINABLE, as it's something that is available to live in. The goal is REALISTIC, as it's not too out there to achieve it. The goal has a TIMELINE to ensure to achieve it. As to managing the smart goals, firstly write them out to review them everyday, on a weekly basis. Change the course of action to reach the destination, if it is necessary. Think about the 100 day challenge.

I represent our group to report our conclusion. In addition to smart goals, we must feel desperate about our goal. When we need to pay panality if we don't achieve our goals. Chances are, we are more likely to achieve goals. I use life insurance deposit, for example.

After the MOFA forum, Erik and I stayed at MOFA Cafe' for two hours to continue our talk about SMART goals. Erik gave me NT$1,000 to write down his goals before we meet in two weeks.

Friends from Mongolia

Four VIPs from National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH), including Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu, Dr. Battulga Gendenjamts, Dr. Oyunchimeg Aatsan and Ms. Bayartsetseg Janlav visited Grand Toastmasters Club Wednesday evening, January 7th. Four of them visited Taiwan for the first time, four of them visited Toastmasters club for the first time.

I met Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu, MD, PhD, Deputy Director for Research, Training and Foreign Relations at NCMCH Tuesday morning, October 14th, during my third visit to Mongolia wih an aim to promote Toastmasters. Before my departure, Dr. Shane Lin of MacKay Hospital asked if I could find pediatrician specialists in Mongolia interested in new born screening test. After a pleasant talk with Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu, she invited me to give a Toastmasters training for two hours at NCMCH with the support of Dr. Delgermaa from ENT Department Wednesday afternoon, October 22nd, 2014.

Two months later, I was excited to know that  Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu would visit National Taiwan University Hospital for four days with three of her colleagues in early January. Wednesday afternoon, January 7th, I first met them at Taita Jing Fu Center, then we took MRT to Mackay Hospital upon the invitation of Dr. Shane Lin. Dr. Lin led us a grand tour of MacKay Hospital, including patients with genetic disorder observation area, pharmacy, pediatric wards on 12th and 13th floors.

Being a full time pharmacist two decades ago, I spent most time doing admistrative works, approving drugs, inspecting pharmaceutical companies. With the advent of telecommunication and biotechology in recent years, I couldn't help but marvelling at modern clinical facilities and environment at the MacKay Hospital. The interactive animation designs of forest and beach at the pediatric wards were welcoming. The pharmacy of all kinds of genetic engineering medicines were impressive. I felt very grateful to my parents for giving me a sound body and mind as I had never been hospitalized in my life.

After the visit of MacKay Hospital, Dr. Shane Lin invited us for afternoon tea at the Spot Cafe'. Sitting at the big table with friends from Mongolia overlooking tall trees in the front yard at the old American Embassy, I wish that there would be some kinds of medical staff exchange programs and/or joint research projects between MacKay and NCMCH in the near future to realize my dream to help kids in Mongolia.

I loved to entertain friends from afar. I loved to accompany friends to tour around Taipei. I could take the opportunity to see the every changing Taipei. In the past, I could ride MRT directly from Xindian to National Taiwan University Hospital, but after the rearranging of MRT rountes in November 2014, I had to get off MRT at CKS Memorial Hall and walked to the National Taiwan University Hospital. After the afternoon tea with Dr. Lin at Spot Cafe', we walked to MRT Zhung Shan Station, I got lost in the station, because there were two MRT lines. Like my friends from Mongolia, I was a tourist in stead of a citizen of Taipei. Everything in Taipei was new to me everyday!

Four VIPs visited Grand's first meeting in 2015 to add colors and diversities. Many thanks to Grand's Secretary May Hwang for making a welcome poster to impress our foreign visitors. The special session "Friends from Mongolia" featuring four VIPs enriched our worldview and added a new dimension to our life. Ms. Bayartsetseg Janlav, Foreign Relations Officer, gave a short introduction of NCMCH for us to understand the health care system for mothers and children in Mongolia.

During the feedback session, President Zoy Chung invited four VIPs to comment our first meeting. All of them showed their interest in learning communication and leadership skills in Toastmasters. Hopefully, NCMCH can charter a Toastmasters Club in their hospital in the future. After the meeting, we headed for Shida Night Market for satisfying late night snacks and said good night for the day.

Happy 2015

Hooray, I woke up in the wee hours by the noise of firecrackers. It was after 12 midnight. The crowd at the foot of Taipei 101 overlooking the astonishing 3D fireworks 2015 iSee Taiwan from the sky were ready to head home. In my dream I saw the fireworks of different colors for 218 seconds to fuse different populations and cultures stretching from ancient to modern backgrounds. I heard the accompanied theme music at the beginning of year 2015 featuring Taiwanese aboriginal artists' voice remixing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons with four Taiwanese folk songs, 思想起, 草蜢弄雞公, 採茶歌, 丟丟銅 in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter respectively. My stomach cramps were still with me there. I shouldn't have eaten that much on the last day of 2014.

"Happy New Year! Your LINE is ready to connect you with your friends," my husband whispered into my ears that I'd officially been connected by LINE before I got up. On the first day of year 2015, I succumb to the powerful telecommunication application. No matter how much golden ladies had opted for Line to share instant messages and photos, I didn't feel excluded until I heard Linda's comments about LINE at the year-end afternoon gathering.

"LINE is more courteous than calling people directly," said Linda, "I feel uncomfortable calling friends on the phone abruptly now". What? I need to LINE my husband to inform him of the dinner on the table? In this fast growing society prompted by telecommunication advents, it is time I changed my old thinking and social behaviors accordingly and timely. I don't know when email will become obsolete, but I'm curious how many LINE groups I shall establish in year 2015. How much will I tolerate to have my time being fragmented into pieces of LINE sticker cartoons?

It felt good when I finished watching the American documentary film "Page One: Inside the New York Times" Thursday morning, January 1st, 2015. I added another new year resolution to read the New York Times at least once a week, especially the special excerpt for United Daily News on Tuesdays. Knowing the inside of the New York Times, I shall feel more attached to journalists behind the desktops in Manhattan, New York.